4 Ministries Churches Can Use to Reach More People

God is always in the business of loving others, and Jesus showed us how. The four years of His earthly ministry were filled with teaching, healing, and taking care of practical needs of people around him. In his book, “Experiencing God,” Henry Blackaby writes that one of the most exciting and important calls on our lives is to find out where God is working and to join Him in what He is doing.

We can all strive to follow Jesus’ example individually. But by banding together as a church, we get to share the load, and the joys, of ministry. The Book of Acts describes such a church. Peter and the other disciples continued the practices of Jesus the best way they knew how, reaching as many as they could.

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works…” (Ephesians 2:10).

I’ve been blessed to be a member of churches where outreach was part of the mission statement. The leaders understood how important it was, not only for the local community, but for the health of the church bodies themselves. I’ve seen all sorts of attempts made to reach out, some more successful than others.

Four categories of ministry are listed here that relate to outreach. The most effective ideas and programs go beyond simply connecting with the community – they focus on two other vital goals:

1. Building long-term relationships with those that are reached.
"Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves” (Romans 12:10).

2. Modeling the Christian life for them.
“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loves us and gave himself up for us…” (Ephesians 5:1-2).

One-Time Events Ministry

These take place once or even annually, and are often connected to a holiday or other special date on the calendar. They are designed to offer families an enjoyable time, while showing them the Christian perspective.

Examples I’ve been a part of include:

• Easter Egg Hunts
• Christmas Ladies’ Cookie Swap/Brunch
• Halloween Trunk-or-Treat Nights
• Valentine’s Day Dinners for Couples

One-time events can be great fun, but the guiding motivation needs to be more than having a good time. Sharing the Good News of Jesus is the most important ingredient, and that can be done in any number of creative ways: putting Scripture verses into the Easter eggs; choosing a Christian comedian to perform on Valentine’s Day; having a Bible-based “getting to know you” game and devotional at a brunch, etc.

Hints: Start on a smaller scale if this is a new event. Decide who will be the point person and gather a core of dedicated workers who are excited about the vision. Draw up a plan early on, with action points down to the simplest details and then delegate the items.

Ongoing Needs Ministry

As Jesus said, “the poor you will always have with you.” Every community has people in need, and the church is in a unique position to reach them. As our Lord showed us, meeting practical needs of any kind can be a gateway to helping God claim and strengthen souls.

Churches can band together to do:

• Seasonal clothing, shoes and blanket drives
• Food pantries
• Medical clinics

The best-run of these ministries that I’ve seen are staffed by members who are passionate about helping others and who are also good at organizing. Inviting some prayer warriors to join in adds another layer of care for people. When we agree to be God’s hands and feet, hearts can be changed – ours as well as those we connect with.

Hints: Focus in on one particular need to meet at first – even one smaller-sized offering can provide powerful results and build close relationships over time. Make sure that the building insurance policy includes coverage for times the church will be open for a pantry or clinic and any special staff that volunteer. Have a rotating staff of people, who are trained in safety procedures and church policies, to avoid burnout.

Teaching Ministry

In Acts 5, the disciples felt an urgency to step out in this way: “Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah” (Acts 5:42). They realized their call to instruct and exhort wherever they were, and that command still holds today.  

Any of these learning opportunities (with a Christian curriculum) can have a positive impact on the community:

• Parenting and marriage classes
• Neighborhood small groups
• Homeschool gatherings
• Premarital counseling

Along with weeknight or Saturday classes inside the church, holding meetings in homes or even coffee shops can be more inviting for those who want to learn, but aren’t quite ready to walk into a church building. We can trust that God’s truths renew minds in every location and hour.

Hints: Find people within the church body with hearts for evangelism as well as teaching. Train them to give their testimony as hearing personal stories about Jesus’ saving grace often helps people relate more quickly to the lesson. Hold regular meetings for teachers and facilitators, so that they can be refreshed and encouraged. Keep information about attendees, curriculum, and questions/concerns updated and saved on a secure computer.

Community Events Ministry

Jesus gave his disciples this instruction: “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation” (Mark 16:15-16). One of the easiest ways to do this is by participating in local happenings.

Doing this well makes community members more aware of a church’s presence and can lead to some fruitful connections to grow God’s Kingdom. Here are some ways I’ve seen a church positively step out:

• Booths at a Home or Bridal Show
• Floats representing Christ and the church in parades
• Music performed by the worship team at festivals

It’s important to keep in mind that entertainment or getting attention for the church is good, but it needs to lead to lifting God up and spreading the Good News of Jesus.

Hints: Start planning for the event at least a couple of months in advance. Lay out a complete set of plans, participants, any costs and what will be needed for church leadership as well as volunteers. See about becoming part of the community’s advertising for the event, to keep spending down. Bring tracts, verses, or vision of the church – anything that will direct people’s attention to the Good News of what Jesus can do in their lives.

Lots of ministries can reach out effectively. But good ideas become more impactful when careful planning, lots of prayer and real follow-through happens. After all, building up others and letting them know they matter to God and us is a part of those “good works” we are made for. Then, as we faithfully reach out, we will see Jesus’ Great Commission come to life.

Photo credit: Unsplash/Duy Pham

Heather Adams is an author, speaker, and singer living in Connecticut. Heather’s passion is to equip and encourage believers to seek more of God’s truth and to experience more of His joy each day. Her book, “Bow Down: The Heart of a True Worshipper” is a practical, 30-day devotional about worship. Worship Walk Ministries, her blog, offers weekly Scripture passages and insights to ponder. Heather shares her home with her family, an English setter named Marcie and Galaxy, the most curious cat she’s ever met. You can connect with her on her website: heatheradamsworshipwalk.com